ACDC News and Views February 12 – February 18

1.

UN disarmament panel passes Pakistan-led resolutions on arms control, nuclear security

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621911/pakistan​

2.

France ready to offer major concessions to sell Rafale jets to India
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2026/02/17/france-ready-to-offer-major-concessions-to-sell-rafale-jets-to-india_6750549_19.html​

3.

Why the growing network of American MQ-9 drones is a challenge for China

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343673/why-growing-network-american-mq-9-drones-challenge-china​

4.

US tech giants expect to spend $670B primarily in artificial intelligence, data centers https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-tech-giants-expect-to-spend-670b-primarily-in-artificial-intelligence-data-centers/3828935​

5.

Pakistan’s 2nd indigenous earth observation satellite launched from China’s space centre

https://www.dawn.com/news/1972715​

6.

​Europe needs cyber weapons, says EU tech chief

https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-needs-offensive-cyber-power-says-eu-tech-chief/​

7.

U.S. Deploys 24 F-15E, 30 F-35A and A-10 Jets to Jordan: Massive Airpower Buildup Near Iran Signals Escalation in Middle East Tensions

https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/us-f35-f15e-a10-deployment-jordan-muwaffaq-salti-air-base-iran-tensions-2026/​

8.

Saudi-Turkey KAAN Fighter Talks Rattle Washington as F-35 Deal Hangs in Balance

https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/saudi-arabia-kaan-fighter-talks-f35-washington-gulf-defense-tensions/​

9.

Azerbaijan reveals long-range air surveillance radar acquisition

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/c4isr/azerbaijan-reveals-long-range-air-surveillance-radar-acquisition​

10.

Russia, China, Iran Launch “Maritime Security Belt 2026” Naval Drills in Strait of Hormuz as US Deploys Dual Carrier Strike Groups

https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/russia-china-iran-maritime-security-belt-2026-strait-of-hormuz-us-carrier-strike-group/​

11.

Australia invests $2.75 billion in AUKUS submarine yard

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/australia-invests-2-75-billion-in-aukus-submarine-yard/​

12.

Belgium wants additional F-35 jets to be ‘as European as possible,’ says defense minister https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/belgium-wants-additional-f-35-jets-to-be-as-european-as-possible-says-defense-minister/​

13.

Arrow 4 anti-missile defense system to possibly be deployed in coming months, IAI CEO Levy says

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886977​

14.

New Talks on Nuclear Arms Control of No Use Without China

https://japan-forward.com/new-talks-on-nuclear-arms-control-of-no-use-without-china/​

15.

What a Speech Reveals About Trump’s Plans for Nuclear Weapons

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/02/14/science/trump-nuclear-bomb-testing-speech.html​